France angry about Russia, Turkey in Libya

France’s president on Monday accused Turkey of massively importing jihadists into Libya, labeling Ankara’s intervention “criminal” and he lambasted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambivalence towards his country’s mercenaries operating in the North African state.

Ties between NATO allies France and Turkey have soured in recent weeks over Libya, Northern Syria and drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey has intervened decisively in recent weeks in Libya, providing air support, weapons and allied fighters from Syria to help the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli repel a year-long assault by eastern military leader Khalifa Haftar.

“I think it’s a historic and criminal responsibility for a country which claims to be a NATO member,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Without providing any evidence on the nature of the fighters, he said Turkey was “massively importing” jihadists from Syria.

Paris has been accused of supporting Haftar politically, having previously given him military assistance to fight Islamist militants. France denies backing Haftar but has stopped short of rebuking his allies, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has also been singled out by the United Nations for violating an arms embargo.

Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) is backed by the UAE, Egypt and Russia. In recent weeks, French officials have repeatedly said that Turkey’s intervention was encouraging Russia to gain a greater foothold in Libya.

Libya’s National Oil Corporation said on Friday Russian mercenaries had entered the Sharara oilfield. A United Nations report in May said Russian private military contractor Wagner Group had up to 1,200 people deployed in Libya.

Macron spoke to Putin on Friday, but stopped short of denouncing Moscow as he has with Ankara. He said the two leaders agreed to work towards a common goal of a ceasefire.

On Monday, Macron said Putin had told him that private contractors did not represent Russia.

“I told him of my very clear condemnation of the actions which are carried out by the Wagner force... he plays on this ambivalence.”

Souree: Reuters

 

The Liberum

The subtitle of The Liberum ("the voice of the people is the voice of God") reflects the concept that the collective opinions and will of the people carry divine importance. They embody truth and wisdom, particularly in a non-partisan marketplace that profiles itself as a marketplace of free ideas and thoughts.
See full bio >
The Liberum runs on your donation. Fight with us for a free society.
Donation Form (#6)

More articles you might like

The Blah Conspiracy – From Sidney Sheldon to Chuck Norris

Just watched an atrocious movie the other day, Sidney Sheldon’s Bloodline (1979). I only did […]

The Art of Ghosting: Have we all become disappearing acts?

From Beirut to Dubai to the West, silence has become the new language of rejection […]

The Politics of Social Media Edits

You’re scrolling through your preferred social media platform, anno 2025—what Gen Z and Millennials call […]

Plan B: Syria’s descended Into Crisis Management Mode

Syria today is entangled in a dense web of geopolitical manoeuvring, broken promises, and competing […]
- by Ahsan Ali on 20/08/2025

Zourabichvili’s Return: A European hope in Georgia’s political drift

With the Georgian Dream party taking over the helm of Tbilisi and moving the steer […]

Despite threats and challenges, the Washington Agreements may bring lasting Peace to the South Caucasus

There was a celebratory mood at the White House on August 8, as U.S. President […]